Foldable seat



Feb. 14, 1939. F] F UgE 2,147,100

FOLDABLE SEAT 2 Sheets-sheaf: 1

Filed Oct. .25, 1957 Attorneys Feb. 14,1939. F. F. KRAUSE 211471100 FOLDABLE SEAT Filed Oct. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 By m . 1 Hnrnmlc Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to folding seats for use in connection with a plain board seat or bench as is used in the bleachers of baseball parks, or in other places where cheap seating stands are provided for the accommodation of a large number of persons.

An object of the present invention is to provide a seat which may be readily folded for transportation purposes and which when unfolded and set up will afford a comfortable chair or seat for the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide inoa folding chair or seat of the character above mentioned improved means for positively yet in a detachable manner securing the seat to the board or bench regardless of the width of the board or bench.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the seat.

Figures 2 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken substantially on the lines 2-2 and 44, respectively, of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the seat and illustrating the application of the same to a board or bench seat, and

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a hook mem ber.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, it will be seen that in the preferred embodiment thereof the improved folding seat comprises a seat member 5 and a back rest member 6.

Suitably secured to the underside of the seat member 5 are hinge brackets I to which are hinged as at 8 suitable brackets 9 secured at one end thereof to the back rest member 6, the shape of the hinge members 9 being such as to permit the back 6 'to fold down and into superimposed position upon the seat member 5. The hinges 8 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3 are of-the type which will limit the swinging of the back rest away from the seat member 5 and beyond back supporting position as shown in Figure 3, and which will permit the back rest to be swung over and to rest on the seat member 5 when desired.

In the present instance the seat member 5 is also shown as being upholstered as at III while the back rest 6 is also upholstered as at II. The upholstering of the members 5 and 6 is of course optional. 7

Further in accordance with the present invention there are provided, in the present instance,

two rods I2 which at one end have flat apertured eye portions I3 bolted or otherwise secured to the underside of the seat member 5 adjacent the forward corners thereof as at. The free ends 'of the rod members I2 are accommodated in sockets I5 provided therefor in the forward or free ends of the hinge brackets I as clearly shown in Figure 3.

Slidable on the rods I2 are hooks I6.

Each hook I6 is in the form of a plate having at one edge thereof a notch I1 adapted to accommodate the edge of a board or bench seat I8 such as for example is used in the construction of bleachers or analogous cheap seating stands.

At one edge thereof the body of the hook I! is formed with'an integral tubular part I9 that is sleeved ona rod I2 in a manner to permit the hook I! to be shifted longitudinally of the rod and to be rotated about the rod as an axis.

Also associated with each rod I2 and hook member I6 is a coil spring I9 that is convoluted about the rod I2 and has an end 20a bearing against the rod portion I3 and a second end 20b bearing against one side of the hook member I6 to urge the latter into a folded position against the underside of the seat member 5 as will be clear from a study of Figure 1.

Also springs I9 serve to yieldably urge the hook members I6 inwardly or toward the hinge brackets 1.

At the notched edge I 1 thereof the tubular part I9 of the hook is notched as at 2| and the forward end of a hinge bracket 1 is complementarily notched as at 22 to receive the notched portion 2| in a manner to cooperate therewith for securing the hook I6 perpendicularly to the seat 5 which is the desired position of the hook just prior to the detachably securing of the seat to the bench or bleacher board I8,

In connection with the above it will be apparent that when a seat is to be used hooks I6 are swung vertically from the position shown in Figure 1 to a perpendicular position with the notched portions 2| of the tubular parts I9 of the hooks engaging the notched portions 22 of the hinge brackets I. s

The seat is then placed on the bench or bleacher board I8 with the forward edge of the board I8 engaging in the notches I1 of the hooks. Thus the seat will be held on the bench board I8 5 against tilting rearwardly, but at the same time the seat 5 may be shifted transversely of the bench board I8 and rearwardly as may be found desirable, hooks II remaining in engagement with the forward edge of the board I8 regardless of of the board and rearwardly thereto. The seat member 5 at its forward edge thereof is provided with a finger-accommodating slot 23 while the back rest 6 at its upper edge is similarly provided as at 24. Thus with the seat members 5 and 6 folded relative to one another the seat in folded condition may be readily carried in one hand of the user.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of a foldable seat embodying the features of the present invention will be had without a more detailed description.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is: g

1. A portable legless seat comprising a seat member, a pair of laterallyspaced rods secured to the seat member at the underside of the seat member adjacent to the forward edge of the seat member, retaining hooks for the seat having tubular portions sleeved on said rods, and spring devices connected with said rods and said hooks for yieldably urging the hooks longitudinally of the rods in one direction and also for yieldably urging the hooks toa folded position against the underside of said seat.

2. A. portable legless seat comprising a seat member, a pair of laterally spaced rods secured to the seat member at the underside of the seat member adjacent to the forward edge of the seat member, retaining hooks for the seat having tubular portions sleeved on said rods, and spring devices connected'with said rods and said hooks for yieldably urging the hooks longitudinally of the rods in one direction and also for yieldably urging the hooks to a folded position against .the shifting movement of the seat transversely the underside of said seat, and a back rest hinged to said seat and adapted to be folded thereagainst when the seat is not in use.

3. A foldable seat comprising a seat member, elongated brackets consisting of hingedly connected sections having one section of each bracket secured on the under side of the seat member for supporting the latter on a bench and provided with a socket in the end thereof, a back rest secured on the other sections of the brackets, rods secured on the under side of the seat member and fitting in the sockets, and spring influ- 1 enced hooks rotatably and slidably mounted on the rods to engage the bench and adapted when disengaged therefrom to rotate into engagement with the under side of the seat member.

4. A foldable seat comprising a seat member, sectional hinge brackets having certain sections thereof secured on the under side of the seat member to rest on a bench, a back rest secured on the other sections of the brackets, said brackets having sockets and notched ends disposed under the seat member, rods secured on the seat member and extending into the sockets, sleeves rotatably and slidably mounted on the rods and having notched ends to interfit with the notched ends of the brackets for releasably securing the sleeves against rotation, plates formed on the sleeves and notched to receive an edge of the bench when the notched ends of said sleeves interflt with the notched ends of the brackets, and spring means acting to slide the sleeves in one direction and to rotate the latter in one direction whereby said sleeves normally bear against the notched ends of the brackets and the plates thereof bear against the under side of the seat member.

FRANK F. IQRAUSE. 

